Nellie wrote both fiction and non-fiction, with wide-ranging topics that included gambling, women’s suffrage, prohibition, marriage, balancing a career and family, women’s role in the church and justice.

Over the course of 37 years, Nellie wrote 16 books. Her first, Sowing Seeds in Danny, was published in 1908, and became the best seller of the year in Canada, eventually running into 17 editions. It sold 100,000 copies and earned her $25,000.

In addition to books, Nellie wrote numerous articles for newspapers and magazines such as Maclean’s, Canadian Home Journal, Country Guide, Chatelaine, and Onward. She also wrote a pamphlet on missionary work in Canada entitled Before They Call (1937).

She so loved writing that even near the end of her life she kept up her correspondence, writing letters and speeches to stay connected to the political movements in the country.

List of her published works:

Date Published

Publication

1908

Sowing Seeds in Danny, was published in 1908, and became the best seller of the year in Canada, eventually running into 17 editions. It sold 100,000 copies and earned her $25,000.Sowing Seeds in Danny. Toronto: Briggs, 1908; New York & London: Doubleday, 1908.
Her first book; the first of the Pearlie Watson stories.

1910

The Second Chance. Toronto: Briggs, 1910; New York: Doubleday, 1910. The Pearlie Watson saga continues. Published in England as The Beauty of Martha. London: Hutchinson, 1923.

1912

The Black Creek Stopping House. Toronto: Briggs, 1912.
A collection of short stories.

1915

In Times Like These. Toronto: McLeod & Allen, 1915; New York: Appleton, 1915.
Essays on temperance and female suffrage.